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30 National Front Supporters Arrested in Britain
About 30 National Front (NF) supporters were arrested in England's Sunderland area for public order offenses on Saturday.
Most of the arrests occurred when officers stopped a coach from Birmingham on the outskirts of the city, and police said there was no violence involved.
The arrests came as a planned demonstration by the far-right group in the center of the city failed to materialize.
Members of the group had been given permission by police to protest for 15 minutes Saturday afternoon on land near Sunderland 's main police station.
But there was no sign of the NF supporters, although police kept a presence in the area and monitored a group of men, believed to be NF members.
The arrests were made after police spotter teams tracked a coach of believed NF members, including national events organizer Terry Blackham, entering the force area.
Police said the men were arrested to prevent a breach of the peace, after they had transferred to a public service vehicle.
The NF said it was protesting at the growing number of asylum seekers and refugees in Sunderland.
More than 150 Anti-Nazi League supporters met in the center of Sunderland on Saturday to protest against the planned rally.
Police and community leaders were anxious that such marches do not become catalysts for the sort of racial violence seen in several northern English towns this summer.
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